Systems and Methods for Enhanced Efficiency Auxiliary Power Supply Module

• US 20180254701A1
• Filed: 05/02/2018
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: AVRUTSKY, Mordechay
• Granted Patent: US 10,333,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A power supply for use in a solar electric production system, including: a first stage having an input connected to a voltage from a photovoltaic panel and an output providing a first voltage different from the voltage from the photovoltaic panel; and a second stage connected to the output of the first stage, the second stage supplying power at a second voltage to a micro-controller, where the output of the first stage is turned on and stable for a period of time before the second stage is turned on to supply the power at the second voltage to the micro-controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a micro-controller;

a first stage power converter to generate a first output from a direct current input;

a control circuit powered by the first output; and

a second stage power converter connected to the first stage power converter and configured to convert the first output to a second output;

wherein the control circuit is configured to block the second stage power converter from powering the micro-controller using the second output in a time period that is after the control circuit is powered by the first output and before a predefined condition is met in the control circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power absorption circuit powered by the first output during the time period;

wherein the predefined condition includes a voltage of the first output reaching a threshold; and

wherein after the time period, the control circuit stops the power absorption circuit from consuming the first output from the first stage power converter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power absorption circuit comprises a capacitor coupled to the first output;

and when the voltage is above the threshold, the capacitor has sufficient energy to power the second stage power converter to operate the micro-controller for at least a predetermined period of time, in absence of power input from the first stage power converter during the predetermined period of time.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power absorption circuit comprises a switchable load.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control circuit signals the switchable load to be in a first state of consuming the first output during the time period and to be in a second state of not consuming the first output after the time period.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when the switchable load is in the second state, the voltage above the threshold is sufficient to power the second stage power converter to operate the micro-controller for at least a predetermined period of time during which the direct current input to the first stage power converter has diminishing power.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the switchable load comprises:

a resistive device; and

a switching device connected to the resistive device, wherein the switching device is turned on in the first state to connect the resistive device to the first output and turned off in the second state to disconnect the resistive device from the first output.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit delays a first signal instructing the switching device to change from the first state to the second state to generate a second delayed signal that instructs the second stage power converter to change from not powering the micro-controller to powering the micro-controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control circuit comprises:

a hysteresis amplifier coupled to the first output to generate the first signal; and

a delay circuit coupled to the first signal to generate the second delayed signal.

10. A method to supply power, the method comprising:

generating, by a first stage power converter, a first output from a direct current input;

powering a control circuit using the first output;

generating, by a second stage power converter connected to the first stage power converter, a second output from the first output from the first stage power converter;

blocking, by the control circuit during a time period that is after the control circuit is powered by the first output and before a predefined condition is met in the control circuit, the second output from the second stage power converter from powering a micro-controller; and

powering the micro-controller using the second output from the second stage power converter after the time period.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

consuming, by a power absorption circuit, at least a portion of the first output from the first stage power converter during the time period.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predefined condition includes a voltage of the first output reaching a threshold;

and the method further comprises;

stoping, by the control circuit after the time period, the power absorption circuit from consuming the first output from the first stage power converter.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the consuming includes:

consuming, by a switchable load in the power absorption circuit, the portion of the first output from the first stage power converter during the time period.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

signaling, by the control circuit, the switchable load to be in a first state of consuming the portion of the first output during the time period; and

signaling, by the control circuit, the switchable load to be in a a second state of not consuming the first output from the first stage power converter after the time period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, when the switchable load is in the second state, the voltage above the threshold is sufficient to power the second stage power converter to operate the micro-controller for at least a predetermined period of time during which the direct current input to the first stage power converter has diminishing power.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the switchable load includes a resistive device, and a switching device connected to the resistive device;

wherein the method further includes;

turning on the switching device to place the switchable load in the first state in which the resistive device is connected to the first output; and

turned off the switching device to place the switchable load in the second state in which the resistive device is disconnected from the first output.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

delaying, by the control circuit, a first signal instructing the switching device to change from the first state to the second state; and

generating, via the delaying, a second delayed signal that instructs the second stage power converter to change from not powering the micro-controller to powering the micro-controller.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating the first signal using a hysteresis amplifier coupled to the first output.

19. A power supply in a solar electric production system, the power supply comprising:

a micro-controller;

a first stage power converter having;

an input connected to a first voltage from a photovoltaic panel; and

an output providing a second voltage different from the first voltage from the photovoltaic panel;

a control circuit powered by the output of the first stage power converter; and

a second stage power converter connected to the output of the first stage power converter and configured to supply power at a third voltage to the micro-controller;

wherein the control circuit is configured to block the second stage power converter from powering the micro-controller at the third voltage in a time period that is after the control circuit is powered by the output of the first stage power converter and before a predefined condition is met in the power supply.

20. The power supply of claim 19, wherein the first stage power converter is a first step-down converter, and the second stage power converter is a second step-down converter.